U.S. patent application number 12/695758 was filed with the patent office on 2011-07-28 for providing query suggestions.
This patent application is currently assigned to MICROSOFT CORPORATION. Invention is credited to CHRIS ANDERSON, JANINE CRUMB, David James GEMMELL, AJAY NAIR, STELIOS PAPARIZOS, GENNADII TERTYCHNYI, AN YAN.
Application Number | 20110184951 12/695758 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44309758 |
Filed Date | 2011-07-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110184951 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PAPARIZOS; STELIOS ; et
al. |
July 28, 2011 |
PROVIDING QUERY SUGGESTIONS
Abstract
Methods and computer-readable media are provided for determining
suggested queries. A user enters a search website, and the user is
identified based on a user identification. Suggested queries are
determined based on a group associated with the user. This
association is created by extracting queries from data logs,
categorizing the queries into groups based on their respective
subject matter, associating the user with one or more groups, and
determining suggested queries for each group. The suggested queries
are communicated for display.
Inventors: |
PAPARIZOS; STELIOS;
(MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA) ; ANDERSON; CHRIS; (REDMOND,
WA) ; CRUMB; JANINE; (REDMOND, WA) ; GEMMELL;
David James; (DANVILLE, CA) ; NAIR; AJAY;
(KIRKLAND, WA) ; TERTYCHNYI; GENNADII; (ISSAQUAH,
WA) ; YAN; AN; (SAMMAMISH, WA) |
Assignee: |
MICROSOFT CORPORATION
REDMOND
WA
|
Family ID: |
44309758 |
Appl. No.: |
12/695758 |
Filed: |
January 28, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
707/737 ;
707/767; 707/E17.059; 707/E17.089 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/3322 20190101;
G06F 16/951 20190101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/737 ;
707/767; 707/E17.059; 707/E17.089 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-usable
instructions that, when used by one or more computing devices,
cause the one or more computing devices to perform a method
comprising: receiving an indication that a user has entered a
website that allows for a search of a database based on an entered
query; identifying the user based on a user identification
associated with the user; determining one or more suggested queries
based on at least one of a plurality of groups with which the user
is associated, wherein the user is associated with the at least one
group by, extracting queries from one or more data logs,
categorizing each of the queries into the plurality of groups based
on a subject matter of each of the queries, associating the user
with the at least one of the plurality of groups based on one or
more of past queries submitted by the user, website links selected
by the user, or preferences associated with the user, and
determining the one or more suggested queries for each of the
plurality of groups; and communicating for display the one or more
suggested queries.
2. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the
one or more suggested queries are communicated for display prior to
the user entering a user-submitted query.
3. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, further
comprising receiving user input that includes at least a portion of
a user-submitted query.
4. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the
one or more suggested queries for each of the plurality of groups
are determined based on one or more of a popularity of each of the
queries or how recently each of the queries was submitted to a
search engine.
5. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein a
quantity of the one or more suggested queries for a particular
group is less than the quantity of total queries in the particular
group.
6. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein at
least a portion of a quantity of the one or more suggested queries
is determined based on one or more of trends or topics associated
with the group.
7. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 3, wherein at
least a portion of the one or more suggested queries is not related
to the user input.
8. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the
one or more data logs include one or more of a web log, a query
log, a toolbar log, or a browser log.
9. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, further
comprising: receiving a user selection of one of the one or more
suggested queries; and communicating for display one or more search
results that are selected based on the one of the one or more
suggested queries.
10. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-usable
instructions that, when used by one or more computing devices,
cause the one or more computing devices to perform a method
comprising: receiving user input in a search box that includes at
least a portion of a first alphanumeric string of a user-submitted
query; based on the user input, accessing a database to determine
one or more suggested first alphanumeric strings, wherein the
database contains a plurality of alphanumeric strings that are each
associated with at least one category based, in part, on a subject
matter of each of the plurality of alphanumeric strings;
communicating for display the one or more suggested first
alphanumeric strings; receiving an indication of the first
alphanumeric string of the user-submitted query; deriving one or
more suggested queries that include the first alphanumeric string
of the user-submitted query, wherein each of the one or more
suggested queries is derived according to a structured expression,
and wherein the structured expression comprises one or more
categories such that one of the plurality of alphanumeric strings
is selected from each of the one or more categories to form the one
or more suggested queries; and communicating for display the one or
more suggested queries.
11. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein
the structured expressions are derived from a plurality of queries
extracted from one or more data logs.
12. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 11, further
comprising: associating the user with the at least one of a
plurality of groups based on one or more of past queries submitted
by the user, website links selected by the user, or preferences
associated with the user; associating a plurality of queries
extracted from one or more data logs with the plurality of groups
based on, in part, a subject matter of each of the plurality of
queries; and determining the one or more suggested queries from the
plurality of queries based on a popularity of each of the plurality
of queries, wherein the popularity is determined based on a number
of instances that the each of the plurality of queries are listed
in the one or more data logs, and wherein the one or more suggested
queries are selected from a group of queries associated with the at
least one of the plurality of groups associated with the user.
13. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein
patterns of representative categories associated with alphanumeric
strings within each of the plurality of queries are analyzed to
determine the structured expressions.
14. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein at
least a portion of the one or more suggested queries is not
contained in the one or more data logs.
15. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein at
least a portion of the one or more suggested queries have never
before been submitted as queries to a search engine.
16. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein
the structured expression represents new functionality of a search
engine.
17. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein
the one or more suggested queries are derived from the database by
selecting the one of the plurality of alphanumeric strings from
each of the one or more categories that form the structured
expression.
18. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein at
least two of the one or more suggested queries are derived from two
different structured expressions.
19. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-usable
instructions that, when used by one or more computing devices,
cause the one or more computing devices to perform a method
comprising: receiving an indication that a user has entered at
least a portion of a first alphanumeric string of a user-submitted
query into a search box; determining a group with which the user is
associated; communicating for display one or more suggested first
alphanumeric strings that are selected based on the group with
which the user is associated and the at least the portion of the
first alphanumeric string of the user-submitted query; receiving
user input indicating the first alphanumeric string of the
user-submitted query; accessing a database to identify one or more
suggested queries that each contain the first alphanumeric string
of the user-submitted query, wherein each of the one or more
suggested queries is structured according to a structured
expression whose structure has been determined by the structure of
the one or more potential queries in the one or more data logs, and
wherein the structure of the structured expression comprises one or
more categories that are each associated with a plurality of
alphanumeric strings such that one of the plurality of alphanumeric
strings is selected from each of the one or more categories to form
a member of the one or more suggested queries; receiving the user
input indicating the user-submitted query; and communicating for
display a plurality of search results that are identified based on
the user-submitted query.
20. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein it
is determined that the user is associated with the group by,
identifying the user in one or more data logs by way of a user
identification; based on one or more of previous queries submitted
by the user, website links selected by the user, or preferences
associated with the user, associating the user with the group; and
associating one or more potential queries extracted from the one or
more data logs with the group based on, in part, a subject matter
of the one or more potential queries.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Typically, queries that are suggested to a user are based on
queries that have been submitted to a search engine in the past.
These past queries may be found from various sources, including
data logs, such as query logs, search logs, toolbar logs, etc. This
method of suggesting queries, however, fails to target known
interests of the user who is currently entering the query. Further,
suggesting queries to a user in this way only provides for queries
that have already been submitted to a search engine, as the queries
are identified from data logs, and as such, severely limits the
scope and subject matter of the suggested queries. Moreover, the
suggested queries are determined based only on the query that is
currently being entered and thus ignores many other factors that
can be used to provide relevant query suggestions.
SUMMARY
[0002] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter,
nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of
the claimed subject matter.
[0003] Embodiments of the present invention relate to determining
suggested queries. Suggested queries may be determined based on
known interests of a user, or based on new functionality of a
search engine. For instance, a user may be associated with a group
based on queries that have been issued by that user in the past.
Further, queries extracted from data logs are also associated with
the group. In this way, queries that are associated with the group
with which the user is also associated are suggested to the user
regardless of the query currently being entered by the user. These
suggested queries, in one embodiment, are not related in any way to
the query that is currently being entered by the user, but the
suggested queries represent areas of interest previously shown by
the user. In another embodiment, queries are suggested based on
structured expressions, which represent new functionality of a
search engine. Structured expressions represent a plurality of
queries that are derived based on one or more categories that
comprise the structured expression. For instance, a user may begin
entering a first portion of a query, and may then be presented with
one or more words or phrases that include the same first portion of
the query entered by the user. These suggested queries or portions
of a query are derived from structured expressions. Further, the
query suggestions may be dynamically determined as the query is
being entered by the user, and as such, the query suggestions may
change as the user types more alphanumeric characters into a search
box.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The present invention is described in detail below with
reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing
environment suitable for use in implementing embodiments of the
present invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing system
architecture configured for use in implementing embodiments of the
present invention;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method for determining
suggested queries based on a group associated with the user, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a method for determining
suggested queries based on structured expressions, in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0009] FIGS. 5-7 are flow diagrams of methods for determining
suggested queries, in accordance with embodiments of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] The subject matter of the present invention is described
with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However,
the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this
patent. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed
subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include
different steps or combinations of steps similar to the ones
described in this document, in conjunction with other present or
future technologies. Moreover, although the terms "step" and/or
"block" may be used herein to connote different elements of methods
employed, the terms should not be interpreted as implying any
particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed
unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly
described.
[0011] Embodiments of the present invention provide for methods and
computer-readable media for suggesting queries based on one or more
factors, including new functionality of a search engine and areas
of interest of the user. A user enters a search page, and based on
factors such as past queries submitted by the user, website links
selected by the user, and preferences associated with the user, the
user is associated with a group. Suggested queries having similar
subject matter are associated with the same group with which the
user is also associated, therefore allowing for the identification
of suggested queries. Moreover, queries may be suggested based on
structured expressions, which represent new functionality of a
search engine. These suggested queries may not have been submitted
to a search engine before, and therefore are not included in any
data logs. This allows search engines to define a query structure
that provides the best and most relevant search results. Queries
are derived from the structured expressions according to categories
that comprise the structured expressions. In one embodiment,
suggested queries are dynamically determined based on the portion
of the query that a user has entered.
[0012] Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention is
directed to one or more computer-readable media storing
computer-usable instructions that, when used by one or more
computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to
perform a method. The method includes receiving an indication that
a user has entered a website that allows for a search of a database
based on an entered query, and identifying the user based on a user
identification associated with the user. The method further
includes determining suggested queries based on at least one of a
plurality of groups with which the user is associated. The user is
associated with the at least one group by extracting queries from
data logs, categorizing each of the queries into the plurality of
groups based on a subject matter of each of the queries,
associating the user with the at least one of the plurality of
groups based on one or more of past queries submitted by the user,
website links selected by the user, or preferences associated with
the user, and determining the suggested queries for each of the
plurality of groups. Additionally, the method includes
communicating for display the suggested queries.
[0013] In another aspect, the present invention is directed to one
or more computer-readable media storing computer-usable
instructions that, when used by one or more computing devices,
cause the one or more computing devices to perform a method. The
method includes receiving user input in a search box that includes
at least a portion of a first alphanumeric string of a
user-submitted query. Based on the user input, a database is
accessed to determine suggested first alphanumeric strings. The
database contains a plurality of alphanumeric strings that are each
associated with at least one category based, in part, on a subject
matter of each of the plurality of alphanumeric strings. The method
also includes communicating for display the suggested first
alphanumeric strings and receiving an indication of the first
alphanumeric string of the user-submitted query. In one embodiment,
the suggested first alphanumeric strings are dynamically determined
as the user types the first portion of the query. Further, the
method includes deriving suggested queries that include the first
alphanumeric string of the user-submitted query. Each of the
suggested queries is derived according to a structured expression,
and wherein the structured expression comprises one or more
categories such that one of the plurality of alphanumeric strings
is selected from each of the one or more categories to form the
suggested queries. The method additionally includes communicating
for display the suggested queries. The suggested queries may be
dynamically determined, and as such may vary as the user continues
to enter alphanumeric characters of the query into a search
box.
[0014] A further aspect is directed to one or more
computer-readable media storing computer-usable instructions that,
when used by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more
computing devices to perform a method. The method includes
receiving an indication that a user has entered at least a portion
of a first alphanumeric string of a user-submitted query into a
search box, and determining a group with which the user is
associated. Also, the method includes communicating for display
suggested first alphanumeric strings that are selected based on the
group with which the user is associated and the at least the
portion of the first alphanumeric string of the user-submitted
query. The method additionally includes receiving user input
indicating the first alphanumeric string of the user-submitted
query and accessing a database to identify suggested queries that
each contain the first alphanumeric string of the user-submitted
query. Each of the suggested queries is structured according to a
structured expression whose structure has been determined by the
structure of the potential queries in the data logs. Further, the
structure of the structured expression comprises one or more
categories that are each associated with a plurality of
alphanumeric strings such that one of the plurality of alphanumeric
strings is selected from each of the one or more categories to form
a member of the one or more suggested queries. Moreover, the method
includes receiving the user input indicating the user-submitted
query, and communicating for display a plurality of search results
that are identified based on the user-submitted query.
[0015] Having briefly described an overview of embodiments of the
present invention, an exemplary operating environment in which
embodiments of the present invention may be implemented is
described below in order to provide a general context for various
aspects of the present invention. Referring initially to FIG. 1 in
particular, an exemplary operating environment for implementing
embodiments of the present invention is shown and designated
generally as computing device 100. Computing device 100 is but one
example of a suitable computing environment and is not intended to
suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of
the invention. Neither should the computing device 100 be
interpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any
one or combination of components illustrated.
[0016] The invention may be described in the general context of
computer code or machine-usable instructions, including
computer-executable instructions such as program modules, being
executed by a computer or other machine, such as a personal data
assistant or other handheld device. Generally, program modules
including routines, programs, objects, components, data structures,
etc., refer to code that perform particular tasks or implement
particular abstract data types. The invention may be practiced in a
variety of system configurations, including handheld devices,
consumer electronics, general-purpose computers, more specialty
computing devices, and the like. The invention may also be
practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are
performed by remote-processing devices that are linked through a
communications network.
[0017] With reference to FIG. 1, computing device 100 includes a
bus 110 that directly or indirectly couples the following devices:
memory 112, one or more processors 114, one or more presentation
components 116, input/output ports 118, input/output components
120, and an illustrative power supply 122. The bus 110 represents
what may be one or more busses (such as an address bus, data bus,
or combination thereof). Although the various blocks of FIG. 1 are
shown with lines for the sake of clarity, in reality, these blocks
represent logical, not necessarily actual, components. For example,
one may consider a presentation component such as a display device
to be an I/O component. Also, processors have memory. We recognize
that such is the nature of the art, and reiterate that the diagram
of FIG. 1 is merely illustrative of an exemplary computing device
that can be used in connection with one or more embodiments of the
present invention. Distinction is not made between such categories
as "workstation," "server," "laptop," "handheld device," and the
like, as all are contemplated within the scope of FIG. 1 and
reference to "computing device."
[0018] The computing device 100 typically includes a variety of
computer-readable media. Computer-readable media can be any
available media that can be accessed by computing device 100 and
includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and
non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for
storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data
structures, program modules or other data. Computer-readable media
includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or
other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or
other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape,
magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any
other medium which can be used to store the desired information and
which can be accessed by computing device 100. Combinations of any
of the above are also included within the scope of
computer-readable media.
[0019] The memory 112 includes computer-storage media in the form
of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory. The memory may be removable,
nonremovable, or a combination thereof. Exemplary hardware devices
include solid-state memory, hard drives, optical-disc drives, etc.
The computing device 100 includes one or more processors that read
data from various entities such as the memory 112 or the I/O
components 120. The presentation component(s) 116 present data
indications to a user or other device. Exemplary presentation
components include a display device, speaker, printing component,
vibrating component, etc.
[0020] The I/O ports 118 allow the computing device 100 to be
logically coupled to other devices including the I/O components
120, some of which may be built in. Illustrative components include
a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, printer,
wireless device, and the like.
[0021] With reference to FIG. 2, a block diagram is illustrated
that shows an exemplary computing system architecture 200
configured for use in implementing embodiments of the present
invention. It will be understood and appreciated by those of
ordinary skill in the art that the computing system architecture
200 shown in FIG. 2 is merely an example of one suitable computing
system and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the
scope of use or functionality of the present invention. Neither
should the computing system architecture 200 be interpreted as
having any dependency or requirement related to any single
module/component or combination of modules/components illustrated
therein.
[0022] Computing system architecture 200 includes a server 202, a
storage device 204, and an end-user device 206, all in
communication with one another via a network 208. The network 208
may include, without limitation, one or more local area networks
(LANs) and/or wide area networks (WANs). Such networking
environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer
networks, intranets, and the Internet. Accordingly, the network 208
is not further described herein.
[0023] The storage device 204 is configured to store information
associated with query suggestions. In various embodiments, such
information may include, without limitation, data logs, user
identifications, queries organized by group, alphanumeric
substrings organized by category, structured expressions, and/or
the like. In embodiments, the storage device 204 is configured to
be searchable for one or more of the items stored in association
therewith. It will be understood and appreciated by those of
ordinary skill in the art that the information stored in
association with the storage device 204 may be configurable and may
include any information relevant to one or more data logs, user
identifications, queries organized by group, alphanumeric
substrings organized by category, structured expressions, and/or
the like. The content and volume of such information are not
intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the present invention
in any way. Further, though illustrated as a single, independent
component, the storage device 204 may, in fact, be a plurality of
storage devices, for instance a database cluster, portions of which
may reside on the server 202, the end-user device 206, another
external computing device (not shown), and/or any combination
thereof.
[0024] Each of the server 202 and the end-user device 206 shown in
FIG. 2 may be any type of computing device, such as, for example,
computing device 100 described above with reference to FIG. 1. By
way of example only and not limitation, each of the server 202 and
the end-user device 206 may be a personal computer, desktop
computer, laptop computer, handheld device, mobile handset,
consumer electronic device, or the like. It should be noted,
however, that embodiments are not limited to implementation on such
computing devices, but may be implemented on any of a variety of
different types of computing devices within the scope of
embodiments hereof.
[0025] The server 202 may include any type of application server,
database server, or file server configurable to perform the methods
described herein. In addition, the server 202 may be a dedicated or
shared server. One example, without limitation, of a server that is
configurable to operate as the server 202 is a structured query
language ("SQL") server executing server software such as SQL
Server 2005, which was developed by the Microsoft.RTM. Corporation
headquartered in Redmond, Wash.
[0026] Components of server 202 (not shown for clarity) may
include, without limitation, a processing unit, internal system
memory, and a suitable system bus for coupling various system
components, including one or more databases for storing information
(e.g., files and metadata associated therewith). Each server
typically includes, or has access to, a variety of
computer-readable media, as described herein. It will be understood
by those of ordinary skill in the art that computing system
architecture 200 is merely exemplary. While the server 202 is
illustrated as a single unit, one skilled in the art will
appreciate that the server 202 is scalable. For example, the server
202 may in actuality include a plurality of servers in
communication with one another. Moreover, the storage device 204
may be included within the server 202 or end-user device 206 as a
computer-storage medium. The single unit depictions are meant for
clarity, not to limit the scope of embodiments in any form.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the end-user device 206 includes a user
input module 210 and a presentation module 212. In some
embodiments, one or both of the modules 210 and 212 may be
implemented as stand-alone applications. In other embodiments, one
or both of the modules 210 and 212 may be integrated directly into
the operating system of the end-user device 206. It will be
understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the modules
210 and 212 illustrated in FIG. 2 are exemplary in nature and in
number and should not be construed as limiting. Any number of
modules may be employed to achieve the desired functionality within
the scope of embodiments hereof.
[0028] The user input module 210 is configured for receiving input.
Such input might include, for example, user search queries.
Typically, input is entered via a user interface (not shown)
associated with the end-user device 206, or the like. Upon
receiving input, the presentation module 212 of the end-user device
206 is configured for presenting suggested queries, for example, in
association with a search website. Embodiments are not intended to
be limited to visual display but rather may also include audio
presentation, combined audio/video presentation, and the like.
[0029] Turning now to FIG. 3, a flow diagram of a method 300 is
illustrated for determining suggested queries based on a group
associated with the user, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. Initially, one or more data logs are accessed at
step 310. Data logs, as used herein, include one or more of web
logs, query logs, toolbar logs, browser logs, and the like. Browser
logs provide information on user activity that has taken place in
the browser. Toolbar logs capture activity from the browser as
well, but via the toolbar. This information is captured so that it
can be used, for example, to provide functionality associated with
embodiments of the present invention. Data logs contain a variety
of information, including, but not limited to, user
identifications, a list of queries that the users have submitted to
a search engine, times and dates associated with each submitted
query, etc.
[0030] Once the data logs are accessed, unique users listed in the
data logs are identified at step 312. Users may be identified in a
number of ways, such as by an Internet protocol (IP) address or a
user identification (e.g., if the user was logged on to a website
when the query was submitted). In one embodiment, one or more of
the IP address or user identification indicates a physical location
associated with the user, such as a city, zip code, state, etc. At
step 314, users and queries are categorized into various groups.
Queries are categorized into groups according to each query's
subject matter. For example, two queries directed to cars may both
be grouped into a car-lovers group.
[0031] Users are categorized into groups according to a number of
factors, including one or more of the subject matter of previous
queries submitted by the user, website links selected by the user,
or user preferences. Other factors may also be considered in
addition to those listed as examples above. For example, two users
who both submit queries regarding a certain basketball team may
both be associated with a basketball group, or even a sports group.
Or, a user who has indicated an interest in cars in the user
preferences, such as when the user signed up to be a member of a
certain website, may be assigned to a car-lovers group. In yet
another example, a user who has selected one or more links (e.g.,
search result links) related to animals as a result of a search may
be assigned to an animal-lovers group. The animal-lovers group may
contain a plurality of queries that have been previously submitted
by a number of users and that are directed toward various animals.
In one embodiment, a single user is associated with more than one
group, as a user may have diverse interests as indicated by the
user's previously submitted queries. In one embodiment, users are
grouped based on their location. For instance, users who are
associated with the city of Seattle may be associated with a
Seattle group. A user's location may be determined, for instance,
by the user's identification or some other unique identifier.
[0032] As users and queries are now categorized by group based on
the subject matter of the queries in the data log and the other
factors listed above, queries that will be suggested from each
group may be determined, as shown at step 316. For example,
potential queries to suggest to a user may be determined based on a
popularity of the queries, how recently each query was submitted,
trends for the particular group, or topics that are discussed or
determined from the queries. In one embodiment, query popularity is
determined by the number of instances that users have selected a
particular query. In this embodiment, the greater the instances
that a particular query has been selected, the more popular the
query is considered to be. Once the potential queries are
determined for each group, the queries may be stored in a
searchable database or some other storage device. Moreover,
potential queries determined for each group may change, and thus
are dynamic, not static. The number of potential queries may vary,
in addition to the actual queries that are determined to be the
most popular, etc. Steps 310 through 316 outlined above may be
performed offline, such as before a user enters a search engine and
submits a query.
[0033] Steps 318 through 324 are considered to be online steps and
are initiated by a user entering a search engine, as shown at step
318. In one embodiment, a user simply entering a search page or
search website that allows for a search to be performed acts as a
trigger to determine suggested queries. In another embodiment,
however, the user begins to enter a query in a search box when
suggested queries are determined. The user is identified at step
320 by, for example, an IP address or a user identification
associated with the user. At step 322, a group is identified with
which the user is associated. At step 314 as described above, the
user is associated with one or more groups based on, in part, the
subject matter of the queries submitted by the user. At step 322, a
look-up may be performed, for instance, and the group(s) with which
the user is associated is identified.
[0034] At step 324, suggested queries are provided to the user. In
one embodiment, a selection of the potential queries that are
determined for each group at step 316 are communicated for display,
which may include being sent to a client device associated with the
user. This client device may be the end-user device 206 in FIG. 2.
In one embodiment, the top fifteen most popular queries for a
particular group are suggested to a user who is associated with
that group. In another instance, the top five most popular queries
for a particular group are suggested to a user who is associated
with that group. The number of queries that are suggested may vary
and may be any number. The above examples are given for
illustrative purposes and are not meant to limit the scope of
embodiments of the present invention in any way.
[0035] As described, queries are suggested to a user based on one
or more groups with which the user is associated. As such, the
queries that are suggested to the user may or may not be related to
the query that the user is currently entering or that the user
plans on entering once the user has arrived at the search page. For
example, a user may begin entering a query for "Britney Spears,"
but may receive query suggestions that are related to cars, as the
user had previously submitted queries related to cars and thus has
been assigned to a group that is intended for car lovers.
Therefore, suggested queries may be popular queries associated with
a particular group and are provided irrespective of what the user
is typing at the moment.
[0036] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of a method 400 for
determining suggested queries based on structured expressions, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As used
herein, a structured expression represents a plurality of queries
that are formed according to the structured expression. The queries
are broken up into individual alphanumeric strings, such as words,
which are stored in a database according to a category that has
been assigned to each of the words. For instance, the query "Toyota
Corolla" contains two words, and each may be grouped according to a
category to which each word belongs. "Toyota" may belong to a
category of car brands, and "Corolla" may belong to a category of
car models. An exemplary structured expression is {auto parts for
<car-brand><car-model>}, which includes two categories,
namely a car brand and a car model. Each structured expression
represents one or more categories. A user may begin typing the
phrase "auto parts," and as such a suggested query may include
"auto parts for Toyota Corolla," for example.
[0037] The suggested queries are determined by considering one of a
number of factors. Initially, structured data 410 and data logs 412
are considered. Words are extracted from these sources and are each
grouped into one or more categories. Referring back to the example
given above, a word "Toyota" extracted from a data log may be
grouped in a car-brand category. Similarly, a word "Michigan" may
be assigned to several categories, including, for instance, a
college sports teams category and a location category. A similar
process is followed for all other words extracted from the
structured data and data logs. While the examples provided are
single words, phrases that include more than one word may also be
combined and grouped into a category. For instance, "Kansas
Jayhawks" may be assigned to the college sports teams category,
even though it contains more than one word. Once the words or
phrases are extracted, data lists are constructed at step 416. The
data lists contain lists of words that can be selected to be
included in suggested queries. In one embodiment, words are sorted
by category in the data lists.
[0038] One or more of the data logs 412 or a domain expert 414 are
used to determine structured expressions, shown at step 418. As
mentioned above, a structured expression represents a plurality of
queries, and includes one or more categories from which words or
phrases are selected. Queries that are suggested to a user in the
embodiment of FIG. 4 are determined based on a structured
expression. Structured queries that are determined from data logs
412 are determined, in one embodiment, based on the potential
queries determined at step 316 in FIG. 3. As discussed with
reference to FIG. 3, potential queries, in one embodiment, are
those that have been determined to be more popular than other
queries, such as those that have been submitted to a search engine
more times than other less popular queries. These popular queries
may be used to construct structured expressions so that the
structured expressions represent queries that are most popular or
that are of a higher relevancy than other queries. As an example,
if a significant number of queries are structured as
{<sport><sport team>}, a structured expression having
this structure may be constructed. Therefore, trends in submitted
queries are evaluated.
[0039] In another embodiment, structured expressions are determined
by use of a domain expert 414 that determines structured
expressions based on information, such as data logs, that is
provided and may include rules for making this determination. In
still another embodiment, structured expressions are manually
entered into a system. Once data lists and structured expressions
have been identified and determined, this information is stored in
a database at step 420. This information may be stored in a fast
structure, such as a trie table, hot table, binary tree, or other
look-up structure. This storage structure allows for data to be
extracted quickly so that suggested queries can be identified and
returned to the user.
[0040] Continuing with FIG. 4, the online portion of this
embodiment initiates with a user entering a search engine at step
422. In one embodiment, a user begins entering (e.g., typing) a
query, such as a first word or phrase of a query. The search engine
may include one or more of a website specifically directed toward
searches, a search box on a toolbar or otherwise, or anywhere else
where a user may submit a query for purposes of receiving search
results. At step 424, partial matches to the first word or phrase
of the query are identified. For instance, if a user begins to
enter "Fo," this partial entry could map to many words, including,
for instance, Ford, football, food, foliage, etc. In one
embodiment, a certain number of words that match to the entered
characters are displayed from which the user may select. The words
that are displayed as suggested words may be selected from a
database, such as the database described in relation to step 420,
based on the user's interests, as determined by one or more groups
with which the user is associated. The determination of the
group(s) with which the user is associated is described in relation
to step 314 of FIG. 3. In another embodiment, suggested words are
identified based on their popularity. For instance, data logs 412
may be consulted to determine those words or phrases that are
submitted the most by various users in a query. In still another
embodiment, suggested words are selected based on both groups with
which the user is associated and the popularity of these words.
[0041] At step 426, the portion of the query is determined. For
instance, if "Ford," "football," and "food" are displayed as
suggested words and the user selects "football," "football" is the
portion of the query that is determined. The determination may be
made by a user selecting that word, or if none of the suggested
words are selected by the user, the user may finish typing that
word or phrase, and then a determination can be made as to the
portion of the query that the user is entering into a search box.
It should be noted that the suggested words may be dynamically
determined as the query is being entered by the user, and as such,
the suggested words may change as the user types more alphanumeric
characters into a search box. For instance, as "fo" could be
"footall," or "food," "foot" would not be "food," and so "food" may
be removed from the list of suggested words once "foot" has been
entered.
[0042] Once a first portion of the query is known, potential
matches for the rest of the query are identified at step 428. These
potential queries are identified based on one or more structured
expressions. For instance, if it is determined that a first portion
of the query is "football," suggested queries may include "football
Michigan," "football Florida," or "football Kansas," all of which
may be derived from a structured expression of
{<sport><college team>}. Another example, in response
to a first portion of the query being "Ford," suggests queries
including "Ford Focus," "Ford Explorer," and "Ford F150." These
queries may be derived from a structured expression of
{<car-brand><car-model>}, for example.
[0043] In one embodiment, queries derived from different structured
expressions are simultaneously suggested to the user. For instance,
the word "football" may provide for suggested queries including
"football Michigan" and "football Manning," which may be derived
from structured expressions {<sport><college team>} and
{<sport><player>}, respectively. At step 430, the query
suggestions determined from the structured expressions are
communicated for display to an end-user device, such as end-user
device 206 illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0044] In one embodiment, queries that are derived from structured
expressions have never been submitted as a query before, and may
represent new functionality of the search engine. For instance, the
search engine may be more efficient at processing a query that is
structured according to a structured expression than a query that
is not structured according to a structured expression. Moreover,
deriving structured expressions that have new functionality may
allow users to learn the new functionality that is supported by the
search engine so that the users may issue queries in the future
having that same structure as the structured expressions.
[0045] Moreover, embodiments of the present invention may not
implore each step as outlined above. For instance, a user who types
"Fo" into a search box may be presented with suggested queries
including "Ford Focus," "Football Michigan," and "Food recipes"
without the steps of providing suggested first words. The search
engine may skip those steps and simply provide suggested queries,
such as the most popular queries, derived from structured
expressions, such as the most popular structured expressions.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 5, a flow diagram of a method 500 is shown
for determining suggested queries, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention. Initially, at step 510, an indication is
received that a user has entered a search website. A search website
may allow for a user to search a database for one or more search
results based on an issued query. In one embodiment, the user has
simply entered the search website, such as having entered a URL for
a website. In another embodiment, the user has at least partially
entered a query into a search box. Search websites may include,
other than a website dedicated to searching or that allows
searching, may also include a search box located in a browser,
toolbar, etc. At step 512, the user is identified, such as by a
user identification that has been associated with the user. User
identifications may include IP addresses, or a unique alphanumeric
string that identifies the user. The actual user, such as the name,
may not be identified for privacy reasons, but an identification
that distinguishes one user from another is used so that it is
known that two different users are entering a particular query, for
example.
[0047] One or more suggested queries are determined at step 514
based on one or more groups that are associated with the user.
Groups, in one embodiment, are related to various user interests,
including, but certainly not limited to, sports, food, cars,
dating, children, colleges, etc. This list is provided for
illustrative purposes only and is not exhaustive. The group(s) with
which the user is associated is determined by first extracting
queries from data logs, such as toolbar logs, query logs, browser
logs, search logs, etc. Each of these queries is categorized into
groups based on a subject matter of the queries. A subject matter
may be a particular interest of a user, such as those listed above.
The user is then associated with one or more of the groups that
have already been established. The queries have been categorized
into groups, and as such, each group may be associated with both
queries and users. The users are associated with one or more groups
based on past queries submitted by the user (e.g., determined by
the data logs), website links selected by the user, or preferences
associated with the user.
[0048] Once the queries are associated with the groups, suggested
queries are determined for each of the plurality of groups. The
number of suggested queries determined for each group is typically
less than the total number of queries associated with that group,
as only a subset of the queries associated with the group may be
selected as suggested queries. Further, as suggested queries are
selected according to a group(s) with which the user is associated
and not based on the query submitted by the user at the moment, a
portion of the suggested queries presented to the user may not be
related in any way to the query that the user is in the process of
submitting, or has already submitted to the search engine. In that
respect, the user may be submitting or may wish to submit a query
of "Britney Spears," but may be presented with queries such as
"chicken recipe" or "Tiger Woods" if the user is associated with a
food-lovers group and a golf-lovers group, for example.
[0049] The suggested queries for each group may change based on a
number of factors, such as information known about the user,
recency considerations, etc. Recency considerations includes when
queries were last submitted to the search engine. In some
instances, more recently entered queries may be more relevant to
users in the future. Moreover, the suggested queries may be
determined based on popularity, such as the number of instances
that a particular query has been entered in a search engine, which
can be determined from data logs. Recent trends or topics
associated with a particular group may also dictate which queries
are suggested.
[0050] The one or more suggested queries are communicated for
display at step 516. In one embodiment, the one or more suggested
queries are communicated to an end-user device to be displayed for
the user. After the suggested queries are communicated, a user
selection of one of the suggested queries may be received and
search results that are found to be relevant to the selected
suggested query may be communicated for display. In the event that
the user does not select one of the suggested search results, the
user may submit a query into the search box and search results are
displayed that are found to be relevant to the query.
[0051] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method 600 for determining
suggested queries, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. Initially, at step 610, user input is received in a
search box. The user input includes at least a portion of a first
alphanumeric string of a user-submitted query. An alphanumeric
string may include letters and/or numbers, and in one instance, is
a word or phrase. At step 612, suggested first alphanumeric strings
are determined based on the user input. In one embodiment,
determining suggested first alphanumeric strings includes taking
the portion of the query that the user has entered and matching
that portion to one or more alphanumeric strings located in the
database or other storage device. For instance, if a user enters
"fo," potential matches include "food," "football," "Ford," etc. A
database or other storage device is accessed, and contains a
plurality of alphanumeric strings that are each associated with at
least one category based, in part, on a subject matter of each of
the plurality of alphanumeric strings. A category, as used herein,
describes a word or phrase that is representative of many other
words, or that is used to encompass many other words or phrases.
For instance, sports is a category that encompasses many words and
phrases, such as football, soccer, basketball, golf, baseball,
rugby, etc. Another example is an auto brand category that
encompasses brand names such as Toyota, Ford, Chevrolet, Saturn,
Mercury, Honda, Kia, or the like. The alphanumeric strings may be
extracted from one or more of structured data or data logs.
Further, the suggested first alphanumeric strings may be
dynamically determined as the query is being entered by the user,
and as such, may change as the user types more alphanumeric
characters into a search box.
[0052] At step 614, the suggested first alphanumeric strings are
communicated for display, such as to an end-user device for
presentation to the user. At step 616, an indication of the first
alphanumeric string is received. This indication may be a user
selection of one of the suggested first alphanumeric strings
presented to the user, or may be a user-entered indication. Here,
the user may not select one of the suggested first alphanumeric
strings but may continue entering (e.g., typing) a word or phrase
until it is complete. At step 618, suggested queries are derived
according to structured expressions. The suggested queries include
the first alphanumeric string of the user-submitted query.
Structured expressions comprise one or more categories and may be
derived from a variety of sources. In one embodiment, structured
expressions are manually entered into a system. In another
embodiment, structured expressions are derived from a listing of
popular queries, such as those determined at step 514 in FIG. 5.
Patterns of these popular queries are analyzed to form structured
expressions. For instance, if many queries are in the form of
{<car-brand><car-model>}, then a structured expression
having this form may be derived. As such, patterns of
representative categories associated with alphanumeric strings
within each of the queries are analyzed to determine structured
expressions in this embodiment.
[0053] As discussed, alphanumeric strings are extracted from
structured data, data logs, etc., and are associated with
categories based, in part, on a subject matter of each string.
Suggested queries are then formed by selecting one alphanumeric
string from each of the categories included in the structured
expression. For instance, if the first alphanumeric string is
"football," and the structured expression is
{<sport><college team>}, suggested queries may include
"football Michigan," "football Kansas," "football Notre Dame," etc.
The queries actually selected for suggestion to the user may be
selected based on a number of factors, such as a group to which the
user belongs, the popularity of one or more of the alphanumeric
substrings in the query according to, for instance, data logs, or
the like. At step 620, the suggested queries are communicated for
display.
[0054] In one embodiment, the suggested queries are not contained
in the data logs, and as such, may never have been issued as
queries to a search engine before. These suggested queries
represent new functionality of the search engine, and the new
functionality is represented by the structured expressions.
Further, the suggested queries do not necessarily have to be
derived from the same structured expression. Two suggested queries
may be "food recipes" and "food groups," as each may be from a
different expression. Additionally, the query suggestions may be
dynamically determined as the query is being entered by the user,
and as such, the query suggestions may change as the user types
more alphanumeric characters into a search box.
[0055] Turning to FIG. 7, a flow diagram of a method 700 is shown
for determining suggested queries, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention. At step 710, an indication is received
that a user has entered a portion of a first alphanumeric string of
a user-submitted query into a search box. At step 712, a group with
which the user is associated is determined. In one embodiment, it
is determined that the user is associated with the group by
identifying the user in the data logs, typically by way of a user
identification associated with the user. The user identification is
not necessarily used to identify a user by name but may be used to
distinguish one user from another. This alleviates privacy
concerns. Based on various factors, the user is associated with the
group(s). These factors may include, for example, queries that have
previously been submitted by that user, as identified in the data
logs, website links selected by the user, or preferences associated
with the user. Further, potential queries are associated with
various groups, including the group with which the user has been
associated. The potential queries may be extracted from one or more
data logs and are associated with the groups based on, in part, a
subject matter of the one or more potential queries.
[0056] Suggested first alphanumeric strings are communicated for
display at step 714 and are selected based on the group with which
the user is associated, in addition to the at least the portion of
the first alphanumeric string of the user-submitted query.
Selecting the alphanumeric strings based on the group associated
with the user allows for a more focused and relevant selection of
alphanumeric strings. If randomly selected, there is a greater
chance that those suggested alphanumeric strings will not be of any
interest to the user, as they were not selected based on any user
interest, such as a group associated with the user. User input is
received at step 716, and indicates the first alphanumeric string
of the user-submitted query. At step 718, suggested queries are
identified based on a structured expression. A database or other
storage device is accessed, which contains various alphanumeric
strings that have been extracted from structured data, query logs,
or the like. Each of the query suggestions contains the first
alphanumeric string of the user-submitted query. The structured
expressions have structures that have been determined by the
structure of the potential queries in the data logs. In one
embodiment, the structured expression comprises one or more
categories that are each associated with a plurality of
alphanumeric strings such that one of the alphanumeric strings is
selected from each of the one or more categories to form a
suggested query. In another embodiment, the structured expressions
have been derived from popular queries extracted from data logs,
such as those queries determined in relation to step 514 in FIG.
5.
[0057] At step 720, user input is received, which includes the
user-submitted query. The user input, in one embodiment, is a user
selection of one of the suggested queries presented to the user. At
step 722, search results are determined and are communicated for
display. The search results are identified based on the
user-submitted query.
[0058] As can be understood, embodiments of the present invention
provide X. The present invention has been described in relation to
particular embodiments, which are intended in all respects to be
illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will
become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the
present invention pertains without departing from its scope.
[0059] From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is
one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects set forth
above, together with other advantages which are obvious and
inherent to the system and method. It will be understood that
certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be
employed without reference to other features and subcombinations.
This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.
* * * * *